Boot or shoe.



J. A. BROGAN. BO0T 'on. suog. APPIJCATION FILED IIAY I8. I911.

1,1 84,720. Patented May 30, 1916.

\ invention consists JAmns A. BnoGAn, or LAWRENCE,

PATENT OFFICE.

IVIASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATTERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPQRATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BOOT 0R SHOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 18, 1911. Serial No. 628,013.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES A. Bacon", a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Boots or Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likereference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This-invention relates to boots and shoes being particularly'concerned with the rear, or heel, portion of a boot or shoe.

According to a common method of shoe manufacture the heel is attached to the shoe. by means of nails driven, from the outside of the shoe, through the heel and sole and-having their points clenched upon the Inner surface of the insole, inside of the shoe. --The points of the'lasting tacks'and of the nails by which the outer sole is at tached to the shoe around the heel seat also enter the shoe and are clenched by the last upon the inner surface of the insole. A piece offelt, leather, or other material, called a heel pod, is afterward pasted over the exposed, clenched ends of the nails in order to hide them and, as far as possible, toprevent them from rusting and annoying or; injuring the wearer. The heel pod frequently wears out or becomes separated from- .the sole, thus leaving the nails exposed. It also often happens that, as theheel becomes somewhat worn, the heel attaching nails work up into the shoe, greatly to the discomfort of the wearer. The moisture resulting from perspiration frequently causes the insole to rot to such an extent that the lasting tacks and the heel seat nails are no longer securely held. The counter is then liable to pull away fromthe insole, and the appearance of the shoe is impaired.

An object of the present invention 'is to overcome the objectionable features stated, producing a shoe which shall permanently free from nails inside, without sacrificing the desirable features of durability, comfort and fine appearance of the usual high class shoe. v p To this end an important feature of the from the outside, as usual, but do not penebe smooth and l in'an' impr ved sh' ejn which the heel attaching nails are driven trate into the inside of the shoe. This result may be accomplished by splitting the sole and inserting and permanently securing therein a thin hard metal plate upon which the tacks and nails are clenched, their points being turned over into the material of the sole. The plate would preferably be inserted in the insole, the nails entering the insole and having their points clenched therein.

In the practice of the invention a great advantage is realized, in that practically no moisture penetrates beneath the nail clenching plate. Rotting of that portion ofthe insole which holds the points of the tacks and nails is therefore prevented. The liability of the counter to become loosened or bulged, is lessened, and the shoe is durabio and preserves its shape better than heretofore.

In the embodiment of the inventionherein shown and described, the nail clenching plate and the sole are so formed-that the plate may yield somewhat under the weight of the wearer of the shoe, and the plate may advantageously be made of springy or resihent material for the purpose of absorb" ing the shock and relieving the jar incident to walking upon hard surfaces. In the embodiment of the invention hereinafter;

specifically described a thin steel plate, havmg a spring temper, is employed and it has a somewhat arched form from front to rear. This, however, is described merely for the purpose of illustration, and the invention is not limited to this precise form, but includes within its scope "various other eq ira ent structures.

The present invention is plicable to hire, since there is a universal demand upon particulr apthe part of the public that a shoepf this kind be smooth and free from nails inside. The advantages incident to the practice of tion show tionproceds, to make clear the broad features that characterize the invention with- Patented May 30, 19i6.

welt shoes and their inn'niifacw out, however, limiting the invention to the embodiments shown except in so far as defined by the claims.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an insole with one form of nail clenching, resilient, plate inserted and secured in its heel portion, before the flap is cemented down; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the plate shown in Fig. 1, detached from the sole; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section of the heel portion of a shoe embodying a preferred form of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the numeral 10 indicates an insole. The heel end of the sole is split at of the sole, a flap 14 which is preferably rather thin, as'compared to the remaining portion 16 of the sole. This is desirable for the reason that the oflice of the flap is. only to conceal the parts'beneath it and to present a smooth and uniform surface inside of the shoe, while the portion 16 receives and holds the tacks and nails and is therefore subjected to considerable stress.

A thin, resilient plate 18, conforming substantially to the shape of the split portion of the sole, is secured to the part 16, pref erably by spurs 20, 22 struck up from the material of which the plate 18 is made, although this specific form of attaching means is not essential, the main desideratum being that the plate be permanently secured to the sole, in order to avoid the possibility of displacement during manufacture of the shoe. Thin sheet steel, spring tempered has been found to be a suitable material for the plate 18, and it is practicable, when using this material, to employ a plate having a thickness assmall as .020 inch. As illustrated, the plate 18 is arched or curved at 24 whereby at 30. 'lhe jlheel attaching nails 32'are driven through the heel and outer 'sole into the portion 16 of the insole, where they are clenched upon the plate, the pressure exerted upon the work preliminary to driving the heel attaching nails causing the plate to be temporarily flattened and its surface to be held in contact with the sole portion 16 while the nails are clenched.

It will he apparent that in a shoe embodypossibility of the nails 12, forming, at the grain side its central portion is separated from the sole and forms a shock abheel shaped metallic cared to the plate by ing the invention as described there is no working through into the inside of the shoe, to the discomfort and possible injury of the wearer, inasmuch as the plate which is interposed between their points and the foot of the wearer remains permanently in the shoe. Furthermore the cushioning effect of the resilient plate is advantageous in that it reduces the shock and jar incident to the wearing of a shoe with an unyielding heel. These advantages are realized without any corresponding sacrifice of comfort, appearance or durability, since the plate may be so thin as to be imperceptible in the finished shoe and the nails are held by the greater part of the substance of the insole.

Illustration and specific description of the various steps and apparatus employed in the manufacture of the portions of the shoe other than at the heel are omitted, for the reason that they form no part of the present invention. The remainder of the shoe may be constructed as desired, or according to methods and with apparatus well known in the art.

While reference has been hereinbefore made to welt shoes, it should be understood that this is not-to be considered a limitation of-the scope of the invention. The invention includes and contemplates the manufacture of other styles and types of footwear and includes within its spirit all types of footwear in the manufacture of which it can be successfully used.

The nature and scope of the pres at invention having been indicated, and an em bodiment of the invention in its preferred form having been specifically described, what is claimed is 1. In a boot or shoe, the combination of an insole split at its heel portion and a metallic plate permanently secured inthe split portion by one or more prongs struck from the metal of the plate, said plate having a curved surface extending substantially the entire width of the insole and a-eentral hole through which a tack may be 'driven to secure the insole to a last. Y

2. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a sole split at its heel end and having an tensive with the heel seat portion of the sole permanently secured within the split portion and arranged to act both as a. cushion and to prevent penetration of nails into the shoe.

3. In a boot or shoe the combination of a plate curved across substantially its entire width, a layer of leather or like material permanently seone or more prongs struck from the metal of the plate, the plate having a central holethrough which a taclo may be driven to secure the leather layer and the attached plate to a last, and an upper lasted over and secured to said leather layer by lasting tacks driven through the upper and leather layer and clenched upon the plate.

4. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a heel shaped metallic plate curved across substantially its entire width a layer of leather or like material ')erinanently secured to the plate, the plate having a hole through which a tack may be driven to secure the leather and attached plate to a last, and an upper lasted over the edge of said parts and secured thereto by lasting tacks driven through the upper and leather layer and 15 clenched upon the plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES A. BROGAN. Witnesses:

JAMES Wnmn'r, JAMES R. Honnnn. 

